Tastemaker: Jason Burke

All you have to do is visit the “blog” section of snkrbox.com to see why the company’s founder, Jason Burke, is one of this year’s honourees at Toronto Life’s Most Stylish 2014. The hotly anticipated annual event, celebrating the city’s best-dressed along with the launch of the magazine’s Stylebook 2014, takes place this Thursday. Although some of our favourite local sartorialists and influential trendsetters will be there with their fashion-forward A-game on, we’re psyched to see Burke slam-dunk his red carpet look. After all, he’s been honing his enviable style since his teens when his sneaker obsession first took flight. Now with a personal kicks collection in the hundreds, Burke has turned his love of sourcing and collecting kicks into a kickass business, curating new and vintage sneakers, accessories, and clothes for his stylish clientele at snkrbox. We caught up with Burke to find out more about his life and work, and thoughts on being a Toronto Life Most Stylish 2014 honouree.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What should people know?
1. Sneaker shopping is my favourite pastime.
2. snkrbox.com is a curated collection of deadstock sneakers, sneaker style, and sneaker culture.
3. snkrbox donates 50 percent of net proceeds on sales of merchandise to MLSE Foundation.

Who inspired you to start snkrbox?
Polo by Ralph Lauren.

What are the biggest challenges and best rewards about what you do?
Designing a lifestyle from the bottom up is highly rewarding, but snow is a Sneakerhead’s worst nightmare.

What has been the greatest lesson that has come from snkrbox?
Focus.

How does it feel to be an honouree of Toronto Life’s Most Stylish this year?
Special. I feel like this will be a defining moment in my fashion career.

Where would you like to see your company in the next five years?
I would like to collaborate with more brands and expand my product range.

What are three things you can’t live without?
1. iPad
2. iPhone
3. MacBook Pro

Finish this sentence: I love Toronto because…
…we are a local minority and global majority.

What’s your favourite restaurant?
It’s hard to choose one, but I count Buonanotte, Dimmi, Guu, and La Carnita among my favourites.

What’s one of your favourite go-­to designers?
Polo by Ralph Lauren.

Do you have a regimen to help you stay focused and balanced?
Social Media and Shade 45. I also do a lot of yoga at Spirit Loft and play sports to keep my mind and body in working order.

What style trends are you obsessed with right now?
Supporting Toronto­-based or Canadian brands. I love Canada Goose, Club Monaco, Reigning Champ, United Stock Dry Goods, Needs & Wants, Roots, Ovo, Drake, Jaclyn Genovese, Marcus Troy.

What’s your favourite grooming/spa service?
Golden Barber Shop on Bathurst.

Let’s get social for a mo’. How can people stay up­to­date with your busy life?
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, snkrbox.com.